19 and Running

I mean, what is there to say about the Houston Rockets' current 19-game win streak that hasn't already been uttered but the cast of characters on SportsCenter and NBA Fastbreak? I was reluctant to to post about the current run because I wasn't sure how long it would last, especially with the way the West has been looking recently (everyone's a contender these days), but just has Trac McGrady (right) is indicating, the Rockets have their eyes set on the top prize in their conference, and they don't seem to be looking back any time soon.

This is simply an astonishing run for a team that is really not that good. To win three games in a row out West is an accomplishment now, let alone 19. It's shocking to me that the Rockets have been able to maintain this pace without a formidable scoring force in the low post. And to a certain extent that has helped them, because now with Mutombo in the starting five, they have a stronger defense stand. But when they lost Yao for the season, everyone, including myself, thought that this run (which was at 12 with him in the lineup) would fall flatter than Semi-Pro at the box office. It's still inconceivable that a team comprised of one superstar and 13 role players could win 19 games in a row, but this Houston team has proved us all wrong while sticking to their MO, hard work, strong defense, and everyone knowing their roles.

As Tim Legler accurately states in today's Daily Dime, the Rockets are "a perfect storm of role players...[they] consist of players who know they have to make a name for themselves in this league by hustling." Upon further review, what better team could you ask for to go on a run like this? An icon of a player desperate for a championship, who is surrounded by guys who aren't throwing games when they've had enough of something (cough New York Knicks cough) or who are playing for the cash. Maybe these guys will lock down long term deals at the end of this year, but right now they're united under head coach Rick Adelman, and playing for a common goal. And now, that goal of becoming the #1 team in the deepest Western Conference in a long time, seems very obtainable.

As a side note, and I might put out a column on this later, the '70-'71 Lakers' streak of 33 consecutive games will never be touched. Correction, no one will even come within 10 games of it. It's one of those streaks/records in sports that will never be broken, that's just the way it goes. Similar to Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2632 consecutive games played, or Nolan Ryan's 7 no-hitters. These things just can't be topped. Realize that. And understand how special that Lakers team was.